Toy train and track



12, 1952 M. s. DUNKELBERGER 2,585,754

TOY TRAIN AND TRACK Filed April 10, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 1952 M. s. DUNKELBERGER 2,585,754

TOY TRAIN AND TRACK Filed April 10, l947 I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 F'1'G.9 F/GJO' F/GJI Patented Feb. 12, 1952 UNI TE D PATEN T *OFi-FI' CEE c TOY TRAIN AND TRACK Milton S. Dunkelbe'rger, Dayton, Ohio ApplicationiApril I0, 1947,,SeriaL-N0. 74E573 '2 --Cla'ims. 1 This invention relates to a 'toy train and more particularly to a toy-train oi the type using "a manually'op'era'ted "tiltable track and a "gravity "operated train.

'One'obje'ct 'of this invention "is to provide 'a toy train which may be manufactured "and sold at 'a "low cost and yet is durable and fascinating t0 operate.

- Morespecificallyfit is an-objectof this invention to provide a 'gravitypperated train *or the iike *in which the "center of gravity is low "enough not to cause the train-to leave 'thetra'ck when ne getiating curves.

-A further-objector this invention "isto provide 'an improvcd sup orting arrangement for a man- 'ua'l-ly movable track having bdthstraight sections "and curved sections for guiding a gravity opera'ted'tra'in. 'Furth'er objects and advantages 'ef the present invention reside in the construction and -combina'tionpfparts-andinthemode of operation as will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to "the accompanying drawings wherein a-preferre'd form of the present invention-='is clearly shown In the-drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of 'a preferred some: *my invention;

Figure '2 is an el'evational view locomotive coupled to the tender;

Figure 3 is "all *lev'ationaQl view showing the passenger coach;

Figure 4 is *a similar 'viewshowin'g the caboose; .IfFigure15 is ;a plan view 'of the link and pin coupler arranged between the tender and the locomotive;

showing the Figure "6 is a "bottom "View, partly in section,

showing the construction f the passenger coach;

:Figure :7 :is a fragmentary 'elevational view showing the hook coupler on the front end 'ofthe engine in .a raised position in which position the coupler is prevented :f-rom -:coup1ing w-hen pushing another car;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the coupler on the front end of the engine coupled to a car;

' Figure 9 is a side elevational view of one of the wheels;

Figure 10 is a front elevational view showing the construction of one of the wheels;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing one form of mounting for the table on which the train track is mounted;

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 showing a modified arrangement for mounting the table; and,

Figure '13 a tfragmeritary perspective View showing the construction of the track.

'Re'ferringnow to the drawings whereinllhave shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, reference numeral 20 designates a 'tiltabl'e table or platform on which a one piece 'tra'iniu'ackl'fl is mounted. The track '22 is preferably made from flat sheet metal stock which has fbeen'bent to form a U-s'haped channel as best illustrated in Figure 3-13. Perforationsfl are .providedalong the length-of thetrac'k"22 for the receptioniofthe porting vthe table 20.

rivets or the like "for fastening'the track to table '20. "The entire upper surface of the table T20 maybe provided with .scenic'decora'tions or various types as no train operating mechanism 'is necessary. 'For purpose of illustration; .1 have shown a river 2'6, arroadwayi 2B aniia lake. As shown in Figure 11, the underside of the table 20 .is preferably provided with a spherical element 32 arranged substantially centrally thereof for supporting the table on a'soc'keted .sup

porting element or base '34 which is adapted to rest on the floor or any other surface on which the device is to .be operated. The height or the support 34 is chosen so that it will allow the necessary amount of tilting of the table to suecessfuliy operate the train but prevent tilting the table to such an angle that the'train vcan be caused to operate at a speed great :-.enough' to cause the momentum of the train to "upset the train at the curves.

In Figure 12 of the drawing, I have-shown a slightly modified arrangement for tiltahly :sup-

7 While the arrangement show-n-in Figure l2 has some disadvantage nver the arrangement showninFigure Li 'I,, it does ."have the advantage that the supporting ,post "315 will anot'be lost sinoeit is attachedlto the table '20 'by some suitable .meanssuch as the screw :38.

The train comprises .a plurality of units tor tender is removahly coupled to the engine "'40 by means of a link and pin coupler 50. The link is pivotally connected to the tender 42 by suitable means such as the rivet 52. The forward end of the link 50 is provided with a pin 54 which projects through the link '50 and extends into the apertured element 56 provided adjacent the rear end of the engine 40 as best shown in Figure 2. The front end of the engine 40, the rear end of the tender 42, and the rear end of the coach 44 are each provided with a hook coupler 60 which is pivotally mounted and is adapted to be operated by means of a pivoted uncoupler 62. The one end of the passenger coach and both ends of the V the hook couplers upwardly when two units of the train are to be coupled together.

When any one of the hook couplers 60 is raised to a position corresponding to the position in which the hook coupler 60 is shown in Figure '7, the center of gravity of the hook is such that the hook will remain in the raised position. By

virtue of this construction, it is possible to render any one of the hook couplers inoperative at will. However, the hook coupler may be caused to fall of its own accord if the car on which the hook coupler is located is struck a sharp enough blow by one of the other cars. Thus, when the hook coupler 60 on the engine is in its raised position, it is possible to have the engine 48 move up to the-caboose and push the caboose without becoming coupled to the caboose but it is also possible to operate the engine at such a speed relative to the caboose as to cause the impact between the engine and the caboose to jar the hook coupler out of its raised position with the result that the engine will become engaged to the loop coupler on the caboose before the caboose moves completely away from the engine. By use of skill, it is apparent that very interesting eifects canberobtained by using the above described coupling element construction. This is especially true in view of the fact that the units of the trainare all gravitationally operated whereby it takes special skill to control the relative speed of the various units of the train.

, without danger of upsetting.

A very interesting effect is obtained by making the table rectangular in shape. The rectangular shape of the table not only makes it possible to use both straight and curved track sections but also makes it possible to more conveniently regulate the speed of the train. I

The tendency of any train is to slow up around curves and to travel much faster over the straight sections of the track, assuming a constant propelling force. but with the construction disclosed herein, the propelling force is less when the train is on the straight section than when the train is on the curved section at the end of the table. This is due to the fact that when the one end of the rectangular table is in contact with the floor or other supporting surface the angle formed 4 between the table and the supporting surface is smaller than the angle formed between the table and the supporting surface when the side of the table touches the supporting surface.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.-

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a manually actuated amusement device of the class described, a table, means for tiltably supporting the table for gyratory movement in response to manual tilting, continuous track means on said table having both straight portions and curved portions, a plurality of cars supported for rolling movement on said track means, and

a coupler element carried by each end of each car, certain of said coupler elements comprising a loop coupler and other of said coupler elements comprising a complementary gravity actuated pivoted hook coupler, the center of gravityof each hookcoupler being arranged to movepast the pivot point thereof so. as to cause said hook coupler to be gravitationally held either in'loop engaging position or out of loop engaging position.

2. In an amusement device of the class .described, a table, a post secured to the bottom side of said table for tiltably supporting the table for gyratory movement, track means on said table having both straight portions and curved por tions, a plurality of cars, and a coupler element carried by each end of each car, certain of said coupler elements comprising a loop coupler and other of said coupler elements comprising a complementary gravity actuated pivoted hook coupler, the center of gravity of said hook coupler being arranged to move past the pivot point thereof so as'to cause said hook coupler tobe gravitationally held either in loop engaging position or out of loop engaging position, said track means comprising a one-piece sheet metal track element substantially U-shaped in cross section whereby the upper ended the U form spaced rails for guiding said cars, each of said cars comprising a relatively light weight molded plastic body provided with relatively heavy wheels for supporting said body on said track means.

MILTON s. DUNKELBERGER.

REFERENCES CITED,

The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Bonnett Dec. 31, 1940 

